The NCAA Tournament selection committee gave college basketball fans a first glimpse into what a March Madness bracket could look like.

The selection committee unveiled the first in-season top 16 NCAA Tournament seeds on Saturday, Feb. 21. The official NCAA Tournament bracket reveal ― aka Selection Sunday ― is scheduled for March 15.

Here’s a look at what we learned from the first NCAA selection committee in-season top 16 seeds reveal for the 2025-26 season:

NCAA Tournament selection committee’s top 16 seeds

Not surprisingly, Michigan is the No. 1 overall seed. However, a matchup with No. 2 Duke on Saturday, Feb. 21, could help change that outlook for the next reveal.

1. Michigan
2. Duke
3. Arizona
4. Iowa State
5. UConn
6. Houston
7. Illinois
8. Purdue
9. Florida
10. Kansas
11. Nebraska
12. Gonzaga
13. Texas Tech
14. Michigan State
15. Vanderbilt
16. Virginia

NCAA selection committee’s top 16 teams by seeding

• No. 1 seeds: Michigan, Duke, Iowa State, Arizona
• No. 2 seeds: UConn, Houston, Illinois, Purdue
• No. 3 seeds: Florida, Kansas, Nebraska, Gonzaga
• No. 4 seeds: Texas Tech, Michigan State, Vanderbilt, Virginia

NCAA Tournament top 16 seeded teams by region

• Midwest Region: 1. Michigan; 2. Houston; 3. Florida; 4. Virginia
• South Region: 1. Iowa State; 2. UConn; 3. Nebraska; 4. Texas Tech
• East Region: 1. Duke; 2. Illinois; 3. Kansas; 4. Vanderbilt
• West Region: 1. Arizona; 2. Purdue; 3. Gonzaga; 4. Michigan State

NCAA Tournament top 16 seeded teams by conference

After getting a record-setting 14 teams in the NCAA Tournament in 2025, no SEC programs are projected in the top eight seeds, and only two are projected in the top 16 seeds. The Big 12 and the Big Ten lead the way with five teams each.

• Big 12: 5
• Big Ten: 5
• SEC: 2
• ACC: 2
• Big East: 1
• WAC: 1

The United States will be battling history as well as Canada when the countries play in Sunday’s gold medal game (8:10 a.m. ET, NBC, Peacock) at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

That’s because Canada has the edge against the USA in recent championship games of best-on-best tournaments featuring NHL players.

You have to go all the way back to the 1996 World Cup of Hockey for the last time that the United States prevailed. In the meantime, Canada has won two Olympic gold medal game matchups and last year’s 4 Nations Face-Off.

The 2026 U.S. and Canada Olympic rosters are mostly made up of 4 Nations Face-Off players.

Here’s a look at how the USA has fared in the last five championship matchups against Canada:

2025 4 Nations Face-Off: Canada 3, USA 2 (OT)

There was hope for a victory after the United States won a fight-filled game in the round robin of the NHL-run tournament. But the championship game was a loss for the USA.

Tournament MVP Nathan MacKinnon opened the scoring, but Brady Tkachuk and Jake Sanderson gave the USA the lead. That didn’t last long as Canada’s Sam Bennett tied the game less than seven minutes later. After a scoreless third period, the game went to overtime. Jordan Binnington made big saves on Auston Matthews and Tkachuk before Connor McDavid scored the winner.

The USA’s Matthew Tkachuk, who had missed the third game of the tournament with an injury, dressed for the final but couldn’t finish the game.

2010 Olympics: Canada 3, USA 2 (OT)

The Americans tied the game in Vancouver on a Zach Parise goal with 25 seconds left in regulation. Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby then scored the golden goal for Canada at 7:40 of overtime. That started an international run for Canada. The country won the 2014 Olympics (beating the USA in the semifinals) and the 2016 World Cup of Hockey (Crosby was MVP).

2002 Olympics: Canada 5, USA 2

The United States had the home crowd in Utah and the ‘Miracle on Ice’ coach in Herb Brooks. But Canada got big games from future Hall of Famers. Jarome Iginla and Joe Sakic each scored twice and Paul Kariya also scored as Canada overcame 1-0 and 2-1 deficits to win Olympic gold for the first time since 1952. Martin Brodeur made 31 saves.

1996 World Cup of Hockey: USA wins final series 2-1

This, along with the 1980 Olympics, is one of USA Hockey’s bigger moments. Canada won the opener of the best-of-three final in Philadelphia, then the Americans needed to win twice in Montreal for the title. They had two 5-2 victories and overcame two one-goal deficits. After Adam Foote put Canada ahead 2-1, the USA scored four times in the final four minutes to stun Canada in the final game. Keith Tkachuk, father of U.S. Olympians Matthew and Brady Tkachuk, scored five goals in that tournament.

1991 Canada Cup: Canada wins final series 2-0

Canada swept the final with 4-1 and 4-2 victories. Canada’s Steve Larmer had two goals (one short-handed) and an assist in the second game.

Bill Mazeroski’s hit was so massive, it was bound to overshadow everything else he accomplished in his career.

That’s not the worst thing, at least when that hit is a solo home run for the Pittsburgh Pirates to beat the mighty New York Yankees in World Series Game 7. Mazeroski, who died this week, went on to a Hall of Fame career forged on his defensive wizardry at second base.

But that 1960 trip around the bases remains one of the biggest and most memorable blasts in baseball history, although there have been times a game-deciding hit or run driven in isn’t the most revered moment in a given Fall Classic.

With that, we take a look at the 11 homers, bloops, sacrifice flies and other oddities that ended a World Series – many of them long before Dennis Eckersley coined the term “walk-off”:

1. Bill Mazeroski, home run vs. Yankees, 1960 Game 7

Historical note: There was no salary cap in 1960, when the Pirates turned back the Yankee dynasty in a thrilling series that ended at Forbes Field. No, just the Steel City erupting when Mazeroski, as he told USA TODAY Sports years later, was “floating around the bases” after his homer against Bill Terry. It’d be 11 years before the Pirates reigned again in 1971.

2. Joe Carter, home run vs. Phillies, 1993 Game 6

Really tough to elevate a Game 6 Series winner over all the Game 7 dramas, but c’mon: A home run that flips the result of a game, stuns the Phillies into winter, with a Mitch Williams meltdown that many could anticipate coming, voiced legendarily by Blue Jays announcer Tom Cheek: “Touch ‘em all, Joe, you’ll never hit a bigger home run in your life!” A Game 7 winner is great, but getting the plug suddenly pulled on a winner-take-all-game is almost equally shocking.

3. Luis Gonzalez, single vs. Yankees, 2001 Game 7

It barely blooped and rolled into the grass of Bank One Ballpark, but with one defensive hack, Gonzalez toppled the mighty Mariano Rivera and ended the Yankee dynasty in stunning fashion.

An epic World Series looked for all the world like it’d end with the road team finally winning. But Rivera, who also blew Yankee playoff chances in 1997 and 2004, mishandled a bunt that changed the entire dynamic of the inning and forced the Yankees to play the infield in. Derek Jeter had no chance on the dying quail, and it’s kind of nice that exit velocity wasn’t around back then to besmirch the beauty of a perfectly placed bloop.

4. Earl McNeely, 12th-inning double vs. Giants, 1924 Game 7

Seems every fall we get a “longest game by time” or “longest game by innings.” Well, those records have to start somewhere and in 1924, the Washington Senators and New York Giants played on into the 12th, thanks largely to Walter Johnson’s four innings of shutout relief. Finally, McNeely rolled one down the third base line to score Muddy Ruel with the game-winner.

5. Billy Martin, single vs. Dodgers, 1953 Game 6

Bonus points here for the Yankees’ longtime torment of the Brooklyn Dodgers, who’d have to wait two more years to break through against their Bronx rivals. The Dodgers gamely tied Game 6 in the bottom of the ninth before Martin – better known as the mercurial manager – hit a single up the middle off Clem Labine to score Hank Bauer with the game-winner.

6. Edgar Renteria, 11th-inning single vs. Cleveland, 1997 Game 7

The grander drama seemed to occur two innings earlier, when Craig Counsell plated the tying run on a sacrifice fly off sketchy Cleveland closer Jose Mesa, denying the city its first World Series title since 1948.

No, once the Marlins tied it, a go-ahead hit had an air inevitability and the rookie Renteria delivered, right up the middle off Charles Nagy, plating Counsell with the championship run.

7. Gene Larkin, 10th-inning single vs. Braves, 1991 Game 7

An epic Game 6 and 7 in the Twin Cities culminated when Larkin’s pinch hit fly over a drawn-in Brian Hunter allowed Dan Gladden to trot home with the winning run.

The Metrodome fairly exploded, yet the ultimate moment couldn’t compare with the nine and a half scoreless innings Jack Morris and John Smoltz spun to precede it, nor the Kirby Puckett homer a night before to force Game 7. Still, a massive hit to end an epic game.

8. Goose Goslin, single vs. Cubs, 1935 Game 6

Hey, you don’t go 108 years without a World Series title without some heartbreak. This time, it was Goslin making up for the Tigers’ misery a year earlier against St. Louis with a single off Cubs starter Larry French to score fellow future Hall of Famer – and Mickey Mantle namesake – Mickey Cochrane with the Series-winner.

9. Bing Miller, double vs. Cubs, 1929 Game 5

Once again, not the most memorable hit, as that one would belong to Mule Haas (an ancestor of Moose Haas?), whose two-run homer with one out in the ninth ruined Cubs starter Pat Malone’s shutout. Miller made the Cubs pay for intentionally walking Jimmie Foxx (can’t blame ‘em for that).

10. Earle Combs, wild pitch vs. Pirates, 1927 Game 4

The lone Game 4 “walk-off” on the list, and it only sped up the utter certainty that was the ’27 Yankees. Sadly, Pirates pitcher Johnny Miljust properly walked Babe Ruth and struck out Lou Gehrig and Bob Meusel before uncorking the fateful pitch.

11. Larry Gardner, 10th-inning sacrifice fly vs. Giants, 1912 Game 8

Game 8? As the kids now say, that’s so fake. But ties due to darkness were a thing then. Sadly, the decisive rally was spurred by a pair of errors on the Giants, enabling the Red Sox to push across the winning runs after New York took the lead in the top of the 10th.

The WNBA sent a counterproposal to the players’ union on Friday after receiving the WNBPA’s latest offer for a new collective bargaining agreement earlier this week, a person with knowledge of the situation told USA TODAY Sports. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because they’re not authorized to speak publicly about ongoing negotiations.

In Friday’s counter, the WNBA agreed to provide housing for all players in this first year of the agreement, this season. After 2026, players making the minimum salary and with zero years of service would get one-bedroom apartments in 2027 and 2028. Developmental players would be given studio apartments for the full six seasons of the deal, which would end in 2031.

WNBA teams have provided player housing since the first CBA in 1999. Teams could provide a one-bedroom apartment or stipend in the last CBA.

While the two sides may be getting closer on the housing issue, salary cap and revenue sharing are still big issues. There have been ‘no movements’ from the league on either, the person with knowledge of the situation said. Additionally, there have also been ‘no movements’ on items such as the season start date, number of games, rookie scale contract length or salary protections.

Earlier this week, the WNBPA requested 25% of gross revenue in the first year, increasing over the life of the agreement to an average of roughly 27.5%. The union also proposed a salary cap of less than $9.5 million. The WNBA is currently offering more than 70% of league and team net revenue and proposing a salary cap of $5.65 million per year, rising with league revenues.

‘Well, someone’s gonna have to fold, aren’t they?’ Collier told USA TODAY Sports on Feb. 18.

‘We don’t think, obviously, what we’re asking for is unfair, otherwise we wouldn’t be asking for it. But we understand it’s a negotiation. … But, we have to be able to stand strong in what we believe in and make sure that we are getting a fair cut in this pie that we are building together.’

The WNBA offer continues to include a maximum $1 million base salary, with a projected revenue-sharing component that raises players’ max total earnings to more than $1.3 million in 2026. The league’s maximum salary would grow to nearly $2 million over the life of the agreement, which would end in 2031. The minimum salary would be more than $250,000 and average salary more than $530,000.

A person with knowledge of the situation told USA TODAY Sports there is a sense of urgency from the players’ union, but the WNBPA does not feel the WNBA is acting in kind. According to the person, the latest proposal from the league felt ‘baffling,’ given recent comments from NBA commissioner Adam Silver.

‘What I would love to do is put pressure on everyone,’ Silver said during NBA All-Star Weekend. ‘Often, things tend to get done at the 11th hour. We’re getting awfully close to the 11th hour when it comes to bargaining.’I want to play whatever role would be most productive in getting a deal done. We need to now move toward the next level of sense of urgency and not lose momentum in terms of the amazing amount of progress we’ve seen in women’s basketball.’

The source said the WNBA’s latest offer did include ‘minor improvements’ to a proposed 401k plan and a ‘slight improvement’ in retirement benefits for players, including a one-time payment for players with at least eight years of service or more. Players would receive a $4,500 payment for each year of service in the WNBA.

The regular season is scheduled to start May 8. Before that can happen, the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire will have expansion drafts. Free agency and the 2026 WNBA draft also need to take place. Collier said the closer the clock moves to May 8, the more anxious people may become.

‘I hope people just remember that we want to be out there, too. I think it gets [lost] with lots of different narratives out there that we’re being unreasonable, whatever it is ― this is our livelihood,’ Collier said.

‘This is our job, our passions, what we love to do most in the world. We want to be out there. It’s just such a pivotal time in women’s sports.’

MILAN — It’s Saturday, Feb. 21 at the 2026 Winter Olympics and we’re underway on one of the final days of competition at the Milano Cortina Games.

While we have to wait one more day for the biggest event remaining at these Games – USA-Canada in the men’s hockey gold medal game – Saturday still presented plenty of intrigue. Team USA added another gold medal in mixed team aerials, after Chris Lillis, Connor Curran and Kaila Kuhn won the United States’ second consecutive gold in the event.

Ice skating stars Alysa Liu, Amber Glenn and Ilia Malinin stole the show at the exhibition gala, going out with a bang after being breakout stars of the Games for the U.S.

USA TODAY has a team of more than a dozen journalists on the ground in Italy to bring you behind the scenes with Team USA and keep you up to date with every medal win, big moment and triumphant finish. Get our Chasing Gold newsletter in your inbox every morning and join our WhatsApp channel to get the latest updates right in your texts.

Alysa Liu takes victory lap at exhibition gala

Alysa Liu, the last to perform at the exhibition gala after winning gold in women’s singles, skates to ‘Stateside’ by PinkPantheress featuring Zara Larsson. The 20-year-old is leaving Milan with two gold medals in the two events she competed in during her second Olympic appearance. – Austin Curtright

Ilia Malinin delivers message in exhibition gala performance

Ilia Malinin entered the 2026 Winter Olympics as the overwhelming favorite to win gold in men’s singles, but it didn’t work out in his favor, finishing eighth in the competition. He was invited to the exhibition gala anyway and delivered a magical performance to ‘Fear’ by NF.

Read more on Malinin’s skate here. – Austin Curtright

Team USA’s Kaillee Armbruster Humphries, Jasmine Jones win bronze in two-woman bobsled

Team USA’s Kaillee Armbruster Humphries and Jasmine Jones take bronze in the two-woman bobsled event, behind two different Germany duos.

It’s Armbruster-Humphries’ second medal of the 2026 Winter Olympics and her sixth overall. Jones, an Olympic rookie, earns her first career medal. – Austin Curtright

Amber Glenn exhibition gala performance

Amber Glenn skates to ‘That’s Life’ by Lady Gaga in what could be her final Olympic performance at the exhibition ice skating gala. The 26-year-old is the oldest U.S. women’s skater since 1928 and narrowly missed the podium in women’s singles on Feb. 19 after finishing in fifth place. – Austin Curtright

Canada beats Team USA to win women’s curling bronze medal

The United States just narrowly missed out on its first women’s curling medal.

Team USA, skipped by Tabitha Peterson, fell 10-7 to Team Canada, skipped by Rachel Homan, in the bronze medal game Saturday.

Canada didn’t lead until the sixth end, in which it went from down 3-2 to up 5-3. The U.S. pulled even in the seventh, but Team Homan followed that up with another three-stone end in the eighth. Team Peterson got within one on the penultimate end (8-7), but it wasn’t enough to overtake the world No. 1 team. — Payton Titus

Women’s ski halfpipe final new time announced

The women’s ski halfpipe final was postponed to Sunday due to heavy snow on Saturday. But it appears fans will not have to wait long to get their medal event fill.

The new time for the event is 10:10 a.m. local time (4:40 a.m. ET).

Women’s ski halfpipe final postponed

The women’s ski halfpipe final scheduled for Saturday has been postponed to Sunday, the FIS confirmed in a statement obtained by The Athletic.

“Persistent heavy snow throughout the day on Saturday has resulted in crews being unable to prepare the Milano Cortina 2026 halfpipe in such a way as to ensure a safe and fair competition for all athletes,” the statement said.

The FIS said that the IOC would announce the new schedule later Saturday.

Eileen Gu – who has faced criticism for competing for China – is one of the gold medal favorites in the event.

Mia Manganello wins bronze in speed skating mass start for Team USA

The 36-year-old claimed her second career Olympic medal with a third-place finish in the women’s mass start. This marks the first time in Olympics history that the United States has earned a medal in this event.

Manganello now has two Olympic medals on her resumé, with this being her first individual medal.

Jordan Stolz comes in fourth in mass start race

Stolz, seeking his third gold medal at these Games, missed the podium by just .09.

Jarrett Bergsma of Norway won the gold, with Denmark’s Viktor Thorip taking silver and Italy’s Andrea Giovanni finishing just ahead of Stolz at the end to secure the bronze.

Mia Manganello to finals of mass start

Mia Manganello has made it to the mass start final. The top eight skaters in each of the two semifinals advance, and Manganello was third in her semi. 

Manganello will be a medal favorite in the final later Saturday. She won the mass start at the first World Cup of the season and made the podium three other times, giving her the season title by one point ahead of Marijke Groenewoud of the Netherlands. — Nancy Armour

Jordan Stolz to final of men’s mass start

Jordan Stolz is moving on to the final of the mass start. The top eight in each semifinal move advance to the final and Stolz was fourth in his semi.

Stolz put the mass start back in his program for the first time in two years this season and quickly showed he’s a force to be reckoned with in this race, too. He made the podium in two of the four World Cups, including winning the mass start in Hamar, Norway. — Nancy Armour

Sidney Crosby not ruled out for gold medal game vs. U.S.

Crosby has been dealing with an injury to his right leg, leaving his status for the men’s hockey tournament’s gold medal game in limbo.

‘I watched him skate today,’ Canada coach Jon Cooper said Feb. 21. ‘We’re going to meet tonight and have a determination of what’s going to happen tomorrow. He won’t. … He won’t put himself in harm’s way, and he’s not going to put the team in harm’s way.’

Canada and USA face off in the gold medal game on Feb. 22 (8 a.m. ET) at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena. Canada closed its practice on Feb. 21 to avoid having reporters see what was happening. — Helene St. James

U.S. skimo mixed relay team misses podium, places fourth

The U.S. ski mountaineering mixed relay team of Anna Gibson and Cameron Smith figured to fare better in this event than the sprint-style format of the individual competition.

That was certainly the case, with Gibson and Smith – who are both professional trail runners – just missing out on a medal and placing fourth. The relay involves both skiers going for two laps, compared to one during the individual race, which played into the Americans’ hands.

France’s team of Emily Harrop and Thibault Anselmet won gold, with Switzerland’s Jon Kistler and Marianne Fatton in second. Oriol Cardona Coll, the men’s sprint winner, and Ana Alfonso Rodgriguez of Spain took bronze. — Chris Bumbaca

Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo makes Olympic history

MILAN — Eric Heiden’s record for most gold medals won at single Winter Olympics has fallen.

It’s a record that stood for 46 years, with the American speed skater having won five golds at the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York.

Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo, the men’s cross-country skier from Norway, won his sixth medal (in six events) of the 2026 Winter Olympics with a victory in cross-country men’s 50 km on Saturday, Feb. 21.

Klaebo, 29, won the 10K interval start, 4×7.5 km relay, skiathlon, sprint, and team sprint and 50km mass start at the Milano Cortina Winter Games.

He increased his Olympic record total to 13, including 11 golds from the Winter Olympics 2018, 2022, and 2026. — Josh Peter

US wins second consecutive gold in mixed team aerials

LIVIGNO, Italy – The United States’ mixed aerials team was looking for redemption.

For the second consecutive Olympics, the Americans are the mixed aerials champions, with Chris Lillis, Connor Curran and Kaila Kuhn flying and contorting themselves to the top of the podium. — Chris Bumbaca

Team USA leads charge in freestyle skiing mixed team aerials

LIVIGNO — The United States mixed aerials team looks poised to defend their gold medal from four years ago.

Although Chris Lillis is the lone member of the three-person team running it back, he, Connor Curran and Kaila Kuhn put up a monster first round of finals (one run each) to finish first among the four teams moving on. Their combined score was 351.23.

Barring disaster, the trio should at least medal. Australia, Canada and China are the other finalists. — Chris Bumbaca

Where to watch Olympics today

Watch all 2026 Winter Olympics events on NBC and Peacock.

Watch Olympics on Peacock

Feb. 21 Winter Olympics TV Schedule

All times Eastern

• 4:00 AM – BOBSLED (LIVE) Men’s Quads: Heat 1 USA NETWORK
• 4:45 AM – FREESTYLE SKIING (LIVE) (Medal Event) Mixed Team Aerials Final USA NETWORK, PEACOCK
• 6:10 AM – CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING (LIVE) (Medal Event) Men’s 50km Mass Start Classic USA NETWORK
• 7:30 AM – SKI MOUNTAINEERING (LIVE) (Medal Event) Mixed Relay USA NETWORK, PEACOCK
• 8:15 AM – BIATHLON (LIVE) (Medal Event) Women’s 12.5km Mass Start USA NETWORK, PEACOCK
• 10:00 AM – SPEED SKATING (LIVE) (Medal Event) Men’s, Women’s Mass Start NBC
• 10:20 AM – CURLING (LIVE) (Medal Event) Canada vs. USA Women’s Bronze Final
• 11:00 AM – BOBSLED (LIVE) Men’s Quads: Heat 1-2 USA NETWORK
• 11:30 AM – CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING (REPLAY) (Medal Event) Men’s 50km Mass Start Classic NBC
• 11:45 AM – FREESTYLE SKIING (REPLAY) (Medal Event) Men’s Cross Final USA NETWORK
• 12:15 PM – FREESTYLE SKIING (REPLAY) (Medal Event) Mixed Team Aerials Final USA NETWORK
• 1:00 PM – BOBSLED (LIVE) Women’s Doubles: Heat 3 NBC
• 1:05 PM – ICE HOCKEY (LIVE) (Medal Event) Slovakia vs. Finland Men’s Bronze Final
• 1:30 PM – FREESTYLE SKIING (LIVE) (Medal Event) Women’s Halfpipe Final NBC, PEACOCK
• 2:40 PM – CURLING (LIVE) (Medal Event) Canada vs. Great Britain Men’s Gold Final
• 2:55 PM – FIGURE SKATING (LIVE) Exhibition Gala NBC
• 3:15 PM – BOBSLED (LIVE) (Medal Event) Women’s Doubles: Heat 4 NBC
• 3:50 PM – FIGURE SKATING (LIVE) Exhibition Gala NBC
• 4:00 PM – CURLING (REPLAY) (Medal Event) Canada vs. USA Women’s Bronze Final
• 4:30 PM – FREESTYLE SKIING (REPLAY) (Medal Event) Mixed Team Aerials Final NBC
• 5:00 PM – CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING (REPLAY) (Medal Event) Men’s 50km Mass Start Classic USA NETWORK
• 5:15 PM – BOBSLED (REPLAY) Men’s Quads: Heat 1-2 NBC
• 7:00 PM – ICE HOCKEY (REPLAY) (Medal Event) Slovakia vs. Finland Men’s Bronze Final
• 8:00 PM – PRIMETIME IN MILAN (REPLAY) Speed Skating, Bobsled, Freestyle Skiing, Figure Skating NBC, PEACOCK
• 8:00 PM – SKI MOUNTAINEERING (REPLAY) (Medal Event) Mixed Relay USA NETWORK
• 8:45 PM – BOBSLED (REPLAY) Men’s Quads: Heat 1-2 NBC
• 9:30 PM – FREESTYLE SKIING (REPLAY) (Medal Event) Men’s Cross Final USA NETWORK
• 10:00 PM – BIATHLON (REPLAY) (Medal Event) Women’s 12.5km Mass Start USA NETWORK
• 11:00 PM – ICE HOCKEY (REPLAY) (Medal Event) Slovakia vs. Finland Men’s Bronze Final
• 11:30 PM – OLYMPIC LATE NIGHT (REPLAY) Freestyle Skiing, Speed Skating, and more NBC, PEACOCK

Feb. 21 Winter Olympics streaming schedule

All times Eastern

Sign up for Peacock here

• 4:00 AM – BOBSLED (LIVE) Men’s Quads: Heat 1 and 2 PEACOCK
• 4:00 AM – FREESTYLE SKIING (LIVE) Men’s Cross Qualification PEACOCK
• 5:00 AM – CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING (LIVE) (Medal Event) Men’s 50km Mass Start Classic PEACOCK
• 6:00 AM – FREESTYLE SKIING (LIVE) (Medal Event) Men’s Cross Final PEACOCK
• 8:00 AM – GOLD ZONE: DAY 15 (LIVE) Digital Exclusive PEACOCK
• 8:05 AM – CURLING (LIVE) (Medal Event) Canada vs. USA Women’s Bronze Final
• 9:00 AM – SPEED SKATING (LIVE) (Medal Event) Men’s, Women’s Mass Start PEACOCK
• 1:00 PM – BOBSLED (LIVE) (Medal Event) Women’s Doubles: Heat 3 and 4 Final PEACOCK
• 2:00 PM – FIGURE SKATING (LIVE) Exhibition Gala PEACOCK

Olympics medal count

Following competition on Friday, Feb. 20, Norway continues to lead the medal standings with 37 (17 gold, 10 silver, 10 bronze). The United States has the second-most medals with 29 (10 gold, 12 silver, seven bronze), following by Italy (27), Japan (24) and Germany (22).

More 2026 Winter Olympics

Show him the money.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba isn’t in a hurry to get paid, but the Seattle Seahawks star receiver is bound to cash in with a big contract when that time comes. He took home the award for NFL Offensive Player of the Year and also helped Seattle win its second Lombardi Trophy in franchise history after winning Super Bowl 60.

The receiver is officially eligible for an extension this offseason, but there is no timeline on when a deal will be done.

‘I’m really not too pressed right now to get it done,’ Smith-Njigba said in an interview with WFAA on Feb. 20 in his hometown of Dallas. ‘I know my time is coming, and when we get it done, it’s going to be a great deal. God’s timing is perfect timing, so whenever that may come, we’ll be ready for it. I believe I deserve to be the highest paid in my position. Just what I give to the game and the community, I give it my all, and I think that’s worth a lot more.’

Smith-Njigba went on to talk about his love of the game, but the business side of things drives his desire to be the highest-paid.

‘I would play this game for free,’ Smith-Njigba said. ‘I love this game so much. But you don’t have to, and I’m learning to be a good businessman, and we need that check at the end of the day.’

He is currently set to enter the final year of a four-year, $14.4 million rookie contract. The deal, just like every NFL rookie contract, was slotted. Smith-Njigba was drafted by the Seahawks with the 20th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Since his selection came in the first round, Seattle has the ability to pick up Smith-Njigba’s fifth-year option, which would extend his stay in the Pacific Northwest for another year. The fifth-year-option window for the 2023 draft class opened Jan. 5, with the final deadline set for May 1.

That option would be worth about $24.4 million, per Spotrac.

Smith-Njigba recorded 119 catches, 10 touchdowns and led the league with 1,793 receiving yards, setting a franchise record. He was also named a first-team All-Pro and earned a Pro Bowl selection.

If the Seahawks’ star wants to become the highest-paid receiver, he will have to surpass the number that Ja’Marr Chase received last offseason. The Cincinnati Bengals’ receiver inked a four-year, $161 million deal on March 16, 2025 to become the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history.

With an average annual value (AAV) of $40.25 million, the mark is set for Smith-Njigba.

Time will tell if he beats it.

MILAN — Alysa Liu’s father sifted through conflicting thoughts and emotions.

It was less than 24 hours after his daughter won the gold medal for the women’s individual figure skating competition at the 2026 Winter Olympics on Thursday, Feb. 19.

Arthur Liu wore a smile and the look of happiness during an exclusive interview with USA TODAY Sports. He also grew subdued while sharing regrets. He said they stemmed from decisions he made years before his daughter wowed spectators inside the Milano Ice Skating Arena and millions of people watching on TV.

He reflected on a coaching change not long before Alysa walked away from ice skating at 16.

“In retrospect, I feel I made a mistake,’’ Arthur Liu said, adding that Alysa “started to hate skating and stuff until she quit.’’

He also said he regretted taking her from the family’s home in Northern California months before the 2022 Winter Olympics to train in Colorado Springs, where USA Ice Skating is headquartered. She finished sixth at the Beijing Games.

“I took her to Colorado Springs and I left her there,’’ said Arthur Liu, who added that at the time he was overwhelmed with the demands of running his law practice and being a single parent of five children. Alysa, 20, is the oldest. “During that period of time, I wasn’t there for her.

“She was upset and she missed home. But then I was thinking, when I was 14, I went to boarding school. I survived. I felt like (Alysa) can survive this, too. But not knowing that she hated it. I did not know until she came home.’’

‘Do it your way’

When Alysa Liu returned to ice skating at 18, Arthur Liu said, she made it clear how things would proceed.

“She said, ‘I’m coming back. I’m going to do my terms,’’ Arthur recalled. ‘I was like, yes, go ahead and do it your own way. Because I mean, as a father, I love her and I want to support her. But there’s only this much I can do. I’m just one person. I’m very tired by the end of the day.

“Just work and the kids and everything. I just want to relax a little. I don’t have to worry too much about her (now). That’s great. You want me to be hands off? That’s great. Even though you hurt a little bit to hear that.’’

At 13, Alysa became the youngest U.S national champion ever. And as her skating career progressed, Arthur Liu said, he hoped to find someone else to take over.

“Because it’s too hard for me,’’ he said. “It is really difficult for me to raise a champion, take care of her, and also take care for other kids.

“So I had always wanted somebody to take over and that happened. So, OK, you’re not on the team anymore. In a way, it hurts a little bit to hear. But as a matter of fact, that’s exactly where I wanted, for her to be independent.’’

Arthur Liu gave up his role as Alysa’s manager.

“She has a good team of people around her,’’ Arthur Liu said. “So I don’t have to worry about how I can protect her or what to do.

“I’m totally hands off with her business. I have done my job for her and now I need to focus on the other four (children).’’

‘Hugs and pictures’

Section 28, Row 2, Seats 1 through 5.

That’s where Arthur and his four children sat inside the Milano Ice Skating Arena, on a far end of the rink. He said Alysa spotted them during the six-minute practice session before the final stage of the competition began.

Later, Arthur said, he learned she also was forming her fingers into the shape of hearts.

“She’s like that,’’ Arthur Liu said. “Even early on in (U.S.) nationals, national competitions, she would know where I was sitting.

He said his family waited at the arena until 2:30 p.m. so they could visit with Alysa for 10 minutes.

About 20 friends and family members were there to greet Alysa, according to Arthur Liu.

“Lots of hugs and pictures,’’ he said of the visit.

‘I really trust her’

During the night of the free skate, Arthur Liu said, he was only a little nervous.

“I really trust her,’’ he said. “I trust her that she would go out there and do what she normally does. And also my philosophy is a little bit like hers. I’m not so attached to placement, medals. I mean, it’s really about two great programs (the short program and the free skate.)

“That’s something that she’s happy with, happy about. So if she does that, normally it works out pretty well for her.’’

Yet when Alysa vaulted into first place, Japan’s Ami Naka and Kaori Sakamoto were within striking distance before they skated last.

“After (Alysa) performed, I was very happy,’’ Arthur Liu said. “But there are two very strong competitors coming up, so you never know.’’

Soon enough, Arthur Liu knew. Everyone knew.

Alysa was the Olympic champion, America’s first champion figure skater since 2002.

‘They had so much fun’

Arthur Liu recalled the early days after Alysa, his oldest child, started skating. Two of her siblings joined her.

‘They had so much fun chasing people doing hide and seek at the rink and made friends with adults, hockey players and chasing each other,’ Arthur Liu said. ‘It’s just having fun. That’s what parents would want to see.’

And there she was at the Milano Ice Skating Arena, exuding joy and clearly having fun like she did before a dark period and taking a hiatus.

“She’s just really happy to see the crowd,’’ Arthur Liu said, “and she just wants to put on a good performance.’’

MILAN — Mia Manganello had been envisioning this moment for a year.

Once she wrapped her head around what her coach had in mind, that is.

Manganello ended her speedskating career with a bronze in the women’s mass start Saturday, Feb. 21, the first individual medal in three Olympics for the 36-year-old. She had dedicated herself to the event this season, after coach Gabriel Girard said he thought it was her best chance for an individual medal.

‘It was a leap of faith for me,’ said Manganello, who also has a bronze from the team pursuit in 2018. ‘To cross the line with a medal, I’m really proud. But I’m really happy for my coach, as well, that he had this vision for me and I was able to pull it through.’

Manganello’s bronze was the first for the U.S. women in long-track at the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics after fourth-place finishes in the 1,000 meters, 1,500 meters and team pursuit and a fifth in the 500 meters.

It also gave the U.S. team four medals, their most since also winning four at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver.

‘This is definitely a win for the entire team,’ Manganello said. ‘I’ve been a head case probably all year. It was a lot of weight that I put on this event, and you have downs and you have highs, but it’s really my teammates and my family that got in here. And so, to me, it is a win for them just as much as it is for me.’

Speedskaters, at least U.S. ones, usually do events at multiple distances. But knowing this was going to be her last season, her last Olympics, Girard told Manganello she should focus on the mass start.

The mass start is a 16-lap pack race, with sprints every fourth lap, and is similar to the Tour de France cycling race. It requires strategy as well as speed, knowing when to pursue other skaters who make breakaways, knowing when to make your move.

Despite her initial hesitation, Manganello had quick success this season. She won the first World Cup, then made the podium three other times. She wound up winning the season title by a single point over Marijke Groenewoud of the Netherlands.

But nothing is a given with the mass start, especially when the Olympic final has only 16 skaters, smaller than the fields at World Cup races.

Manganello got a boost when Greta Myers, who is also her teammate in team pursuit, made the final. That meant Manganello had help chasing down breakaways and establishing her position for the final sprint.

Myers moved to the front of the pack late in the race, allowing Manganello to conserve energy. On the final lap, she burst forward and skated furiously to the finish.

‘Greta skated out of her mind. It was the best I’ve ever seen her race a mass start. She raced with confidence, she raced with determination and a goal. And that goal was to get me a medal,’ Manganello said, tears filling her eyes.

Myers was happy to do it. These are the first Olympics for the 21-year-old, so this was a valuable learning experience.

But she also knew what it meant to Manganello to get a medal in her last race.

‘There’s no one more deserving than Mia, so I’m just so proud,’ Myers said.

Manganello let out a scream that echoed through the Milan Speed Skating Stadium when she crossed the finish line. She beamed as she climbed onto the medals podium, and cradled her medal as she met with reporters afterward.

Asked what she’ll do now that her speedskating career is over, Manganello said she’s going to go pick up her dog, which has been staying with her parents in Florida. Go to the beach.

And enjoy this medal.

‘I’m just going to lay with my pretty medal in bed for a while,’ she said.

Olympic skier Mikaela Shiffrin poked fun at several blunders she had this week, following a ‘Today’ show f-bomb and revealing she tried a new alcoholic drink.

After winning gold in the slalom on Wednesday, Feb. 18, Shriffin appeared on the ‘Today’ show to reflect on her journey. She was speaking with Carson Daly, Hoda Kotb and Craig Melvin when an unintentional moment happened. Shiffrin accidentally cursed on camera, dropping an f-bomb and then another expletive moments later. (Warning: link contains NSFW words)

Still, that wasn’t the Olympian’s only mishap this week.

While speaking with NBC’s Mike Tirico, Shiffrin cursed again, describing the buildup to the moment she skied for Gold. She later revealed that she celebrated her win with alcohol, her first drink in at least two years. ‘For now, I just had the first sips of my first espresso martini ever, and we’re feeling a little bit tipsy,’ Shiffrin said. ‘Oops. Sorry, NBC. And I feel like everybody is just super ready to drink up.’

After multiple viral moments, Shiffrin poked fun at herself with a seemingly self-deprecating tweet. ‘So…I hear espresso martinis and f bombs on live TV are trending?!’ she posted on X on Saturday.

Shiffrin wasn’t the only Olympian to curse this week.

On Thursday, Olympic figure skater Alysa Liu won an Olympic gold medal with her free skate, becoming the first American woman to win an individual figure skating Olympic medal in two decades. After her performance, Liu let out ‘That’s what I’m (expletive) talking about’ as she was leaving the ice. Later, Liu revealed she would have been happy with her skate, no matter the result.

‘I don’t need this (medal), but what I needed was the stage. And I got that,’ Liu said. ‘So I was all good no matter what happened. If I fell on every jump, I would still be wearing this dress, so it’s all good.’